Stirrup



J. P. NAMI.

STIRRUP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1919.

1,378,? 1 3. Patented May 17, 1921.

Im enfpr J jvamz' 1911a rne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed April 12, 1919. Serial No. 289,498.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. NAMI', a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cristobal, in theCanal Zone, Pan ma, have invented certain new and useful mprove ments in Stirrups; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Wlll enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stirrups for aeroplanes, and other air crafts, and the primary object of the invention is to provide mproved means for facilitating the mounting of an aeroplane, said means belng flush with the sides of the fuselage, so as to reduce wind resistance and to prevent the same from being readily located by unauthorized persons desiring to mount the aeroplane.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stirrup to facilitate the mounting and climbing into the fuselage of an aeroplane, which is formed in the fuselage, so as not to present a resisting surface to the wind.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stirrup for aeroplanes having a cover plate constructed to conform to the contour of the fuselage, and which is arranged to normally extend flush with the sides thereof, so as to present a smooth unbroken Fsurface, so as to prevent head resistance, wind eddying, etc., as is usual in the ordinary types of stirrups now in vogue.

A still further object of the invention is to-provide an improved stirrup for aeroplanes of the above character, which is durable and efficient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as w1ll be hereinafter more speclfically described,

' claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an aeroplane fuselage, s owing the im proved stirrup applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detail cross section taken on the line 2'2,of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the cover plate or flap swung open.

With these and other objects in view, the

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the'line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view;

tillustrating a modified form of the invenion.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a fuselage or body of an aeroplane or other air craft and the same includes the outer skin 2 and the longitudinally extending braces or longrons 3. The improved stirrup 4 includes a substantially fiat plate 5- having the upper surface thereof corrugated, as at 6, so as to prevent the aviators foot from slipping thereon, when climbing or mounting into the fuselage, and the same is secured by fastening elements 7 or other suitable means to one of the longrons 3. The skin 2 is provided with an arch shaped or any other preferred form of opening 8, in direct alinement with the p1ate5 and large enough for the toes of the foot of the aviator to be placed therein. "The plate 5 may be positioned'at a suitable point and secured to any support on the fuselage so as. 1

to permit of the. convenient mounting of an aviator 1n the fuselage. A flap 9 is provided for normally closing the opening 8 in the fuselage, and the same is adapted to lie flush with the outer surface thereof, so as to present a smooth unbroken surface and thus eliminate any head resistance, wind eddying and the like. The flap is normally held in its vertical closed position by means of spring hinges 10, which are secured to the upper inner surface of the flap.

Thus it will be seen that when it is desired to mount the fuselage, the foot of the aviator is placed in the opening and u on the plate 5, which forms a sufficient oot hold for permitting the easy mountin of the plane. Upon withdrawal of the Foot the flap is swung to its closed position by means of the spring hin es and thus an unbroken surface of the uselage is again presented. The flap in its closing movement will sweep off any. debris from the plate 5 that might have been deposited by the aviators foot in mounting the aeroplane.

It is to be understood that any suitable type of hinges and springs may be employed for' closing and hinging the flap and the same, if so desired, may be hin ed on the side or bottom edges thereof. W en hinged at the bottom edge of the opening, the same forms a rest for the foot when the flap is swung inwardly.

The stirrup may be constructed of wood, metal or the like, and as many stirrups as required may be fitted into any fuselage,

, pontoon, motor nacelle or the like of an air craft, and the same can be constructed in the form of a permanent streamline ladder, as a means of climbing into airships,

gondolas, aerobuses or any type of aerial vehicles.

from entering into the fuselage or other body through the stirrup opening.

By eliminatingthe resistance caused by the ordinary types of stirrups now in vogue, an aeroplane fitted with my improved stirrup will be able to acquire a greater rate of speed, than the ordinary aeroplane.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is

the most efficient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, propor tion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as set forth.

brace to form a step of a length substantially equal to the length of a persons foot, and a flap hinged to the inner face of the fuselage at the upper end of the opening and adapted to normally close said opening by gravity and having its outer face flush with the outer face of the fuselage and capable of swinging inwardly by pressure of a persons foot thereagainst to expose the plate. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOSEPH P. NAMI. Witnesses:

P. KEATING GEORGE A. GIBSON. 

